Marcus Rashford letter

Alegrias2

3nanny6 Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic, remember that, you never recover. And you say these are ex-drug users, so its not like they'll be shooting up in the public bar.

Its up to any individual whether they patronise these places or not of course, but I say, good on them for trying to support the people society usually side-lines.

For once I don’t agree with you - yes it’s lovely the centre wanted to help but I think they should have found an alternative means of distribution.

I have posted this elsewhere but this initiative began before the FSM decision. Worth a look if you want/ able to offer help or might be in need of a meal yourself.

freemymeal.co.uk/

suziewoozie I'm not going to complain about that. We won't all agree all the time. I don't know much about the background to this, so I'll go and Google it.

Yes you are right Suziewoozie. I looked up the scheme for my area last Friday and almost fell off my chair when I saw who was offering the scheme and could not believe it. Can you imagine turning up at the place with the sign pointing "Free School Meals" The voucher system was the best and very discreet.

I have a daughter that is single parent and has three children. The two fathers are useless. I have taken food shopping into her home for years so I know my GC have food in the home as well as that I contribute to school uniform and shoes. The benefits she gets whilst helping her do not cover half the stuff her children need.

I would not even allow my GC to go to the scheme in my area and every mother who is struggling to feed their children has my sympathy.

Alegrias2 ;

I am not knocking the alcoholics or ex drug users as in this world I say there but for the grace of God.
My point was it is hardly the best orientated environment to send young school aged children to get a free meal .

The people who provide this help obviously are passionate about those in need within society, and they have a little room next door where they do the drop in service with cups of tea for lets just say those in need.
These places are not suitable for young children free school meals or not.

3nanny6 I may have spoken out of turn, I apologise for that. I would like to know more about it though, do you have a link to any news coverage or anything? Thanks.

The other thing I’ve been thinking a bit more about is the Govts argument that UC has been increased by £20 a week so the parents have extra cash. Apart from the fact that this doesn’t explain why they funded vouchers in the summer, it doesn’t allow for the fact that being on UC doesn’t mean all your outgoings can be met, especially if because of the pandemic you’ve had a sudden downturn in income. Also UC won’t be paid if your partner works but you’ll still be down your earnings. Finally, during term time, the children get FSM - were parents, already facing financial problems supposed to save from their UC during the first weeks of term to have the money for extra holiday meals? That is really asking for the ridiculous.

Suziewoozie : I do not know the rates people receive on UC.
I know that if you are working you can still receive UC and I heard that the children of those people can now get FSM. I do not know how it works, but my daughter is not working so her money works out differently.
My eldest G.C. is totally fussy eater and her sister is not much better. They could get cold food in school (FSM) as now the school is not serving hot food slight correction they serve one hot meal per week which is a bit crazy to me.
My GDs will not eat what they serve as cold meals so my daughter makes her own packed lunches everyday so her money has to stretch to that. I know the children should eat the meal but they will not and so after over a week of them coming home hungry she had to start her own packed lunches.

Alegrias2 ; Is it a link to what is happening in your area you are looking for?

So supposing you live in Hounslow you put in a search for the council in your area and all sorts of things come up for what is happening and what is available for your area.
I actually done a search for the Tier2 for Covid in my area but everything came up for what is happening and what is going on. I put in a search for the Free school Meals and that was one that came up was the one I posted about.
I should be getting regular e-mails to me now from the council so I will check soon to see what else is going on in my area.

My apologies to janpt for suggesting she was uneducated .I merely meant her school had left the socialism movement off the agenda and she might benefit from reading about it and its links to Christianity .

Thanks for taking the time to post that 3nanny6.

Saw this today. UK top of the league again. We should be ashamed of ourselves.

Johnson and his world beating achievements again eh?

And now today (october 2020) this young man is back hard at it ploughing away once again to try force gov't to continue the lunches again! He really should consider a career in politics when he does retire from football, so he can have more say and sway in things.If you get a chance to sign or re-sign his petition then please do.Also rally your MP and also Boris Johnson, as they seem to think its not down to them to help these kids anymore.I think Boris will be sorry if we have another general election and it goes against him. Marcus is a fine caring young man and he would make any parent proud.He overcame adversity and made something of himself and his talent and he's now using that to do the same for others.Very well done to him.

My point was it is hardly the best orientated environment to send young school aged children to get a free meal.

These places are not suitable for young children free school meals or not.

You say that you're not knocking the ex - addicts here, 3nanny6, but I think you are. You know they're just ordinary people? If you got chatting to one at a bus stop you wouldn't actually know their history, unless they told you. What is it about the centre that is so dreadful that you wouldn't let a child near?

Have you actually visited it?

Theres much said about the 'extra' money UC claimants are getting- but NOT everyone is on this (yet)! As some are still on the old ESA system and then theres some just get only child benefit or some tax credits or what about mature students on student finance who have families? NONE of those get an extra £20 per week! So they have to struggle even more- no extra £80-£100 a mth for them!! (Some months having 5 weeks in them) How is that fair? Yet they still have to find money for the extra food, heating, lighting, water usage, washing, cooking the food etc that all family being home that we all had in national lockdown and in kids holiday times plus any extra minor lockdowns they are tagging onto half-term or xmas holidays.The bit for lunches could help a bit but SO CAN GIVING THE £20 A WK EXTRA TO ALL BENEFITS WITH CHILDREN IN HOUSEHOLD!!

The schools that are giving out free 'lunch bags' in holidays/online learning times
also cannot cater for children with allergies- they say they do but they either give out a bag with items in that still have food in that are no good to the receiving child as could be harmful (i.e. some have dairy for dairy- free children!) Or they just get a bag of just fruit only- so not a balanced lunch!

Also a point 3nanny6 is that maybe this place would be a place where the ex-addict parent would be able to take their own child with them anyway? And so can give them a lunch as well? Im sure some of them are parents as well you know.

Grannyactivist
I’m sure Ms. Rashford is very proud of her boy. I’d be even prouder if he donated his ridiculous salary for kicking a ball around a field. ?

At last weeks PMQs, this question was put by Daisy Cooper MP, Deputy Leader of the Libdems.

twitter.com/i/status/1318889520968966145

TiggyW- no need for such a judgemental cold and critical comments about Marcus Rashford and his 'ridiculous salary for kicking a ball round a field". You have no idea how much he donates to charity.
A small number of professional players earn a lot of money. Usually for a relatively short period of time. Why can't we simply celebrate a young man of 22 who has achieved so much?

MaisieD and Nannan2

Firstly I did reply to this thread in respect of Marcus Rashford and his brilliant efforts in trying to to restore the meal vouchers. I see the response that many places have made to "Feed the hungry Kids" I would comment that I am sure that Marcus Rashford would want those kids to receive these meals that are being offered in a safe monitored environment for children and not adults as well who themselves have many social difficult problems once again I say that environment is not the place. Why can they not open school kitchens and bring in volunteers to prepare the meals. The majority of schools are not even using their kitchens and are only serving cold food. I do not see the problem to have something like that done.

Maizie D : I do not have to justify myself to you or anyone else. My background several years ago was working with addicts, ex prisoners, alcoholics. I have had training both on job and also 2 years of exams plus untold voluntary work. If I had no time for these people do you think I would have worked so hard to help them.?
As for not knowing an addict/ex- addict if I met one at a bus stop you would be wrong, I would not know there full history but certainly would know there addictions.

You ask have I visited the center? the answer is yes !! I have helped there in the past. At times it could be quiet but on occasions if someone came in and had taken a substance/drug all of a sudden they could freak out start shouting and become threatening and in fact become a danger to others in the place. So do not call me out about what I know in my community and as I have said there could be far better places found if people really want to safely feed the kids.
I am not Marcus Rashford so nobody listens to people like me who have worked at grass roots level but that's life.

I sympathise with anyone who has lost their job as a result of the pandemic. I spent two years on UB when my two were in their teens, but they never went hungry. However, it’s a fact that many would-be parents underestimate the cost of raising a child (or don’t even think about it beforehand). Then there are the ones who think the government should pay for their upbringing…

Most voters agree with Marcus Rashford

Iam64
Sorry, but I’ve no time for overpaid footballers. He should put his money where his mouth is and repay the state for helping him when he was a child.